Latest news with #Lenard
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to perfect a dispensed beverage program
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. How to Perfect is a regular series that looks at how retailers can further improve store operations in key areas. C-store dispensed beverage programs have been innovation hotspots in recent years. From hot new coffee lines and LTOs to expanded soda lines and exciting marketing programs and exclusives, there's a lot to draw customers in. 'In every [NACS consumer] survey, a majority of customers say they are coming inside to purchase a beverage,' said Jeff Lenard, vice president of media and strategic communication for NACS. Be it coffee or soda, many c-stores have some form of dispensed beverage program. But how can retailers with basic programs take them to the next level? First, industry experts say, they need to make sure they have the basics down pat. That starts with cleanliness, which means more than just spill-free floors and countertops. It also means cleaning the machines regularly and thoroughly. Lenard noted that one Midwest retailer, which he declined to name, has become a destination for dispensed sodas even though it sells the same brands as the competition. 'Customers believed that their version was better — and a lot had to do with maintenance," Lenard said. It's also important to offer a variety of drinks. John Notte, sales director for Appliance Innovation, which makes dispensed beverage machines, pointed to recent National Coffee Association data showing nearly half of shoppers buy specialty coffee daily. 'Think about if I said you're missing half your gas customers,' said Notte. The program should also not only be competitively priced, but also tied into the store's loyalty program, added Shauna Seidenberg, category manager for dispensed beverage and fresh pastry for EG America. Once all that's in place, here are a few other steps retailers can take to improve their beverage programs. Personalization is key Giving customers easy ways to customize their drinks is one simple way to enhance a beverage program — 'especially when it comes to coffee,' said Seidenberg. Some c-stores offer an array of syrup bottles, sweeteners and creamers and allow customers to design their own drinks by hand. Others can go more technological. For instance, the tea machine Appliance Innovations designed for QuikTrip, as well as the Coffee of the Future machine for 7-Eleven, automatically add condiments to drinks. Both Seidenberg and Lenard agreed that however retailers approach condiments, it's vital to keep that area clean and stocked, to give customers a top-notch experience. 'We're always assessing the right balance between offering enough choice to delight our guests and maintaining a clean, easy-to-navigate setup,' said Seidenberg. Hot and cold programs While it may sound trite, it's important not to get too complacent about updating a beverage program. As trends come and go and tastes change, time can turn a great program into an uninspiring one. Take coffee, for example. While a pot or carafe of coffee on a burner was an acceptable program years ago, now fresher brews and bean-to-cup machines are the norm, said Andrew Campbell, SVP of sales and marketing for Appliance Innovation. For EG America, high-quality coffee at an affordable price is 'core to our identity and is an area where we continue to evolve and innovate,' said Seidenberg. She noted that when the retailer selects new roasts, its process includes 'guest feedback, flavor testing, and trend analysis, among other factors' to make sure their selections are what customers want. Adding iced coffee can appeal to different demographics. It's particularly popular among younger shoppers, and between 35% and 40% of these customers preferred iced coffee year round, according to data from Brisk Coffee Roasters. 'Younger customers tend to seek out the cold beverages, and they are willing to pay more for them,' said Lenard. 'It's a great opportunity to attract the next generation of customers and add margin.' Making frozen beverages stand out While frozen drinks may not be as ubiquitous as coffee or soda, they still have a big place in convenience retail. The obvious example is 7-Eleven's iconic Slushee, but frozen beverages can be found all around the industry, from Circle K's Frosters to EG America's Hyperfreeze to branded programs that can be implemented in any store, like Icee or F'real shakes. Playing on consumers' nostalgia for these chilled drinks can be a potent marketing tactic. 'Who doesn't have great memories of buying frozen dispensed?' said Lenard. 'Recapturing those memories could be a way to attract more adults to the frozen dispensed area.' EG America takes some advantage of that, putting care into bright and eye-catching signage for the company's Hyperfreeze program. 'We … want the frozen beverage area to feel like an experience and a destination,' said Seidenberg. Unique flavors From soda to coffee to frozen drinks, having a must-have flavor can push a retailer from an acceptable watering hole to a must-stop location. 7-Eleven, for example, regularly rolls out new flavors from coffee to Slurpees, and seems to start pumpkin spice season earlier every year. QuickChek is also well known for its beverage innovations and unique flavors. It offers a monthly coffee LTO, bringing customers flavors like ube vanilla and Boardwalk Blend, which the company says tastes like 'summer and s'mores.' Cumberland Farms, EG America's largest banner, regularly offers coffee LTOs that highlight different regions, like Guatemala, Costa Rica and Rwanda. Seidenberg said EG America's Hyperfreeze program includes both a rotating lineup of regular flavors like cherry or blue raspberry and more 'adventurous' selections like Cotton Candy Commander and Citrus Kick. 'Our stores are encouraged to regularly swap out which flavors they offer to keep it exciting and fresh for our guests,' she added. Exclusive flavors from national brands can give a drinks program a leg-up. For example, Circle K has sold multiple exclusive Mountain Dew flavors, sometimes also offering them in frozen form. Some retailers also share recipes for their well-known beverages. EG America offers recipes for drinks like 'Dirty Dr. Pepper,' which combines Dr Pepper, a lime flavor shot from the soda dispenser and a coconut flavor shot from the coffee mix-in area. Other ways to boost interest When introducing unique flavors, offering samples or pricing incentives can help drive trial, Lenard said. When Casey's rolled out its Darn Good Coffee program earlier this year, loyalty members all got a free cup of the new brew to try to win them over. Another useful tactic is involving dispensed drinks in loyalty rewards or bundled deals. Offering a coffee and breakfast sandwich or slice of pizza with a fountain drink, for example, can draw in value-conscious customers to the program. The containers for drinks can offer another way to differentiate. 'Seasonal cup designs or branded cups can help create a more fun and premium feel,' said Seidenberg. And whatever a retailer does, they need to make sure the signage touts the program appropriately, said Lenard. 'Make sure it's easy for them to find what they want – or to try something new.' Recommended Reading Coffee customization is more popular than ever. Here's how c-stores can capitalize. Sign in to access your portfolio
TimesLIVE
25-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
MBB miss out on Pretoria playoffs after BAL conference elimination
Johannesburg's Made by Ball's (MBB) dream of reaching the Basketball Africa League playoffs in their debut season was torpedoed when they were beaten 102-73 by Al Alhy Tripoli in their last Nile Conference game at the BK Arena in Kigali on Sunday. This means SA will not have a representative when the playoffs take place at the Sunbet Arena in Pretoria in two weeks. MBB had to beat conference leaders Al Ahly if they were to qualify to play on home soil as per the standings. They needed to finish second or at least third for the last wild card spot. That spot falls to FUS Rabat of Morocco, who, like MBB, won two games but have a better points difference of -19 compared with the Johannesburg side's -64. US import Teafale Lenard Jr put in another impressive shift on top of his 39 points which he had scored the previous day. The ex-NBA G League player put up 18 points, 11 rebounds and two assists, but his efforts were not enough to carry the team over the line. Jovan Mooring with 10 points and Pieter Prinsloo (11) were the only other players to score double figures. The bench contributed 27 points. By contrast, the men from Libya had 49 points. The 2.13m tall David Craig, who missed the Nairobi City Thunder game on Saturday with a stomach bug, returned to the starting five and was the only change head coach Sam Vincent made. Tripoli quickly opened up a four-point gap from the tip-off, but Lenard levelled matters. With that kind of clinical display from the perimeter, there is no question why Jaylen Adams walks away with the @visitrwanda_now MVP accolade 👏. #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 25, 2025 From then, MBB found their mojo and put up a seven-point extension into the score line and were 14-7 with four minutes remaining, but the Libyan outfit made a comeback and tied the game 16-16 with two minutes left. Though MBB were resilient, Al Ahly ended up winning the quarter 23-16. MBB kept on chipping important buckets in the second quarter, but whenever they moved closer to Tripoli's score, Italian head coach Abou Chacra's men would step on the accelerator. The closest difference MBB moved to was a three-point deficit at 30-27 with four minutes before halftime. Al Ahly, who had already secured a place in the playoffs, went to the dressing room team talk ahead at 42-34. The Libyans ensured that the writing was on the wall for the South Africans and diminished any thoughts of a miracle comeback. They walked away with the game in the third quarter. Jean Jacques Boissy, who was arguably the best player in the conference, slotted a three-point step back jump shot five minutes into the quarter, and Al Ahly took a lead of 22 points. Tripoli had a 69-48 advantage heading into the last 10 minutes of the game. Despite Lenard, Prinsloo and Mooring putting shots at the end, it was not enough to stop the Libyans as they walked away with a 29-point win. US player Jaylen Adams, who played 32:43 for Tripoli, finished with a top score of 28 points.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
So what happens to America's 114 billion pennies once the US stops making them?
The American penny isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The US Treasury Department announced Thursday that it plans to start winding down production of the one-cent coin it has been minting for more than 230 years. But the penny will still remain legal tender, and will still be in use at thousands of retailers around the country for sometime to come. 'If we look at the experience in Canada, for the first year after they stopped making pennies, there's really no change in transactions,' Jeff Lenard, spokesperson for the National Association of Convenience Stores, told CNN. Convenience stores do more cash transactions than any other group, about 32 million a day, or about 20% of the total number of purchases by their customers, Lenard said. The National Retail Federation, which represents most major US store chains as well as thousands of small retailers, also said it anticipates its members will use pennies even after production stops at some point early next year, although it does anticipate that many will round cash transactions to the nearest nickel once the supply of pennies at banks starts to run short. 'Retailers' primary goal is serving customers and making this transition as seamless as possible,' said Dylan Jeon, senior director of government relations for NRF. There are an estimated 114 billion pennies currently in circulation, but they are 'severely underutilized' according to the Treasury department. Many are at home in coin jars or junk drawers, or some other forgotten location gathering dust. The math says that all those pennies could fill a cube roughly 13 stories high. Many people don't even take them as change, tossing them into the leave-a-penny-take-a-penny dishes at store checkouts. Lenard said the large number of pennies in circulation means that retailers won't necessary run out of them for a while. But eventually stores won't be able to get new rolls of pennies from their banks and will start rounding transactions up or down to the nearest nickel. The decision when to do that will rest with each retailer, not official government policy. Electronic transactions such as credit and debit card purchases, will continue to be down to the penny, Lenard said, with only cash transactions being rounded. Even in countries like Canada, where penny production has been discontinued, the penny remains legal tender today. Canada's finance ministry said pennies retain their value for transactions 'indefinitely' despite the fact that it stopped making the coin in 2012. If a customer wants to use pennies to complete a transaction, most retailers are likely to allow them, Lenard said. 'There's a saying in retail, 'Never lose a customer over a penny,'' he said. 'I never really thought of it in these terms, but it applies even more here. I think if someone wants to pay with pennies, most retailers will err on the side of making those customers happy.'
Cision Canada
22-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Canadian Journalism Foundation Announces Inaugural Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow Français
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce that award-winning Anishnaabe journalist Lenard Monkman is the inaugural recipient of the CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). This is the first year of a groundbreaking three-year initiative, aimed at fostering expert reporting on critical health issues affecting Indigenous communities in Canada. Open to Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) journalists with a minimum of five years of professional experience. This prestigious Fellowship provides an annual research stipend of $100,000 plus additional expenses. "We are thrilled to name Lenard Monkman as our inaugural CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow," says CJF President and Executive Director Natalie Turvey. "Lenard first participated in our CJF Indigenous Journalism Fellowship program in 2017 as an emerging journalist, and it's been remarkable to witness his growth in Canadian journalism since then. His deep connections to Indigenous communities and his commitment to impactful storytelling make him the ideal journalist to launch this important fellowship. His proposed project examining HIV rates among Indigenous communities addresses a critical public health issue that demands greater attention and understanding. This fellowship represents our ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in journalism, elevating diverse perspectives and fostering important conversations in the public interest." For his Fellowship, Monkman will collaborate with CBC Indigenous to research and produce an interactive journalistic piece, along with an accompanying video documentary, by the end of 2026 on HIV rates among Indigenous people in Western Canada from a harm-reduction perspective and explore related healthcare-system issues. Manitoba is second, only behind Saskatchewan, (both of which have high Indigenous populations) in HIV cases per 100,000 people in Canada. He intends to examine multiple perspectives when it comes to HIV rates and harm reduction including, but not limited to, people who are directly impacted, First Nations' leaders, frontline service and harm reduction workers, as well as public healthcare leaders—both provincially and in First Nations. His research will also consider the jurisdictional issues that affect Indigenous people seeking healthcare and harm reduction services. "The ongoing HIV crisis in First Nations' communities is a critical health issue that needs further investigation, so Lenard's reporting has the potential to be a vital piece of public interest journalism," says selection committee chair Connie Walker. "Overall, it was good to see such diversity in terms of ideas and projects that were proposed for the inaugural year of this fellowship." The CJF, in partnership with the CMA, acknowledges that Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak (Winnipeg), where Monkman lives and works, is on Treaty 1 Territory. His work will take place in the Traditional Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations Territory, the Homeland of the Red River Métis and lands that were and are Inuit ancestral lands. Monkman is a member of Lake Manitoba First Nation who says his Winnipeg upbringing has helped shape his work. A former CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellow, Monkman has held a number of roles at CBC Indigenous since beginning his career there in 2015, including reporter, radio host and creative producer. He currently works as a producer with CBC Kids. Over the years, he has worked on numerous Indigenous-content related projects, including news stories, panel discussions, video games and online/TV segments. In 2019, he received a RTDNA Award for Excellence in Innovation for CBC's "Beyond 94" project, an immersive and interactive website measuring progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. For its part, CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer says: "Our support for this fellowship reflects our promise to uphold Indigenous practices and amplify Indigenous voices and storytelling to influence government and policymakers to advance Indigenous health and well-being. We appreciate the diligence of the esteemed selection committee to make this decision and look forward to learning from Lenard's impactful work and to further strengthening our collective resolve to foster reconciliation in healthcare." Monkman will be honoured at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 12 at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, see contact information below or visit the CJF Awards page. The CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship selection committee are: Chair – Connie Walker, Pulitzer- and Peabody Award-winning journalist; Karyn Pugliese, aka Pabàmàdiz, online journalist, APTN News; Cheryl McKenzie, Executive Director, News and Current Affairs, APTN; Julian Brave NoiseCat, Writer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer and student of Salish art and history; and Andre Picard, Health Reporter and columnist, The Globe and CJF is grateful for the partnership of the Canadian Medical Association. CIBC is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 CJF Awards. The 2025 CJF Awards are also supported by Google News Initiative, Labatt Breweries of Canada, McCain Foods, Intact, TD Bank Group, CBC/Radio-Canada, Aritzia, BMO Financial Group, CTV News, Canada Life, Sobeys, Scotiabank, RBC, FGS Longview Communications, KPMG, Canadian Bankers Association, Canadian Medical Association, Accenture, Aga Khan Development Network, Apple Canada News, Bennett Jones LLP, Blakes, Canadian Women's Foundation, CPP Investments, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Maple Leaf Foods, OLG, Rishi Nolan Strategies, TD Securities, Uber, WSP. In-kind sponsorship is provided by Beehive Design, The Canadian Press, Bespoke Audio Visual, MLSE and Porter Airlines. Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the CJF. About the Canadian Journalism Foundation Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious annual awards and fellowship program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, businesspeople, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. About the Canadian Medical Association The Canadian Medical Association leads a national movement with physicians who believe in a better future of health. Its ambition is a sustainable, accessible health system where patients are partners, a culture of medicine that elevates equity, diversity and wellbeing, and supportive communities where everyone has the chance to be healthy. It drives change through advocacy, giving and knowledge sharing – guided by values of collaboration and inclusion.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Canadian Journalism Foundation Announces Inaugural Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce that award-winning Anishnaabe journalist Lenard Monkman is the inaugural recipient of the CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). This is the first year of a groundbreaking three-year initiative, aimed at fostering expert reporting on critical health issues affecting Indigenous communities in Canada. Open to Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) journalists with a minimum of five years of professional experience. This prestigious Fellowship provides an annual research stipend of $100,000 plus additional expenses. "We are thrilled to name Lenard Monkman as our inaugural CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellow," says CJF President and Executive Director Natalie Turvey. "Lenard first participated in our CJF Indigenous Journalism Fellowship program in 2017 as an emerging journalist, and it's been remarkable to witness his growth in Canadian journalism since then. His deep connections to Indigenous communities and his commitment to impactful storytelling make him the ideal journalist to launch this important fellowship. His proposed project examining HIV rates among Indigenous communities addresses a critical public health issue that demands greater attention and understanding. This fellowship represents our ongoing commitment to supporting excellence in journalism, elevating diverse perspectives and fostering important conversations in the public interest." For his Fellowship, Monkman will collaborate with CBC Indigenous to research and produce an interactive journalistic piece, along with an accompanying video documentary, by the end of 2026 on HIV rates among Indigenous people in Western Canada from a harm-reduction perspective and explore related healthcare-system issues. Manitoba is second, only behind Saskatchewan, (both of which have high Indigenous populations) in HIV cases per 100,000 people in Canada. He intends to examine multiple perspectives when it comes to HIV rates and harm reduction including, but not limited to, people who are directly impacted, First Nations' leaders, frontline service and harm reduction workers, as well as public healthcare leaders—both provincially and in First Nations. His research will also consider the jurisdictional issues that affect Indigenous people seeking healthcare and harm reduction services. "The ongoing HIV crisis in First Nations' communities is a critical health issue that needs further investigation, so Lenard's reporting has the potential to be a vital piece of public interest journalism," says selection committee chair Connie Walker. "Overall, it was good to see such diversity in terms of ideas and projects that were proposed for the inaugural year of this fellowship." The CJF, in partnership with the CMA, acknowledges that Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak (Winnipeg), where Monkman lives and works, is on Treaty 1 Territory. His work will take place in the Traditional Territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline and Nehethowuk Nations Territory, the Homeland of the Red River Métis and lands that were and are Inuit ancestral lands. Monkman is a member of Lake Manitoba First Nation who says his Winnipeg upbringing has helped shape his work. A former CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellow, Monkman has held a number of roles at CBC Indigenous since beginning his career there in 2015, including reporter, radio host and creative producer. He currently works as a producer with CBC Kids. Over the years, he has worked on numerous Indigenous-content related projects, including news stories, panel discussions, video games and online/TV segments. In 2019, he received a RTDNA Award for Excellence in Innovation for CBC's "Beyond 94" project, an immersive and interactive website measuring progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. For its part, CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer says: "Our support for this fellowship reflects our promise to uphold Indigenous practices and amplify Indigenous voices and storytelling to influence government and policymakers to advance Indigenous health and well-being. We appreciate the diligence of the esteemed selection committee to make this decision and look forward to learning from Lenard's impactful work and to further strengthening our collective resolve to foster reconciliation in healthcare." Monkman will be honoured at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 12 at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, see contact information below or visit the CJF Awards page. The CJF Indigenous Health Journalism Fellowship selection committee are: Chair – Connie Walker, Pulitzer- and Peabody Award-winning journalist;Karyn Pugliese, aka Pabàmàdiz, online journalist, APTN News;Cheryl McKenzie, Executive Director, News and Current Affairs, APTN;Julian Brave NoiseCat, Writer and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, champion powwow dancer and student of Salish art and history; andAndre Picard, Health Reporter and columnist, The Globe and CJF is grateful for the partnership of the Canadian Medical Association. CIBC is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 CJF Awards. The 2025 CJF Awards are also supported by Google News Initiative, Labatt Breweries of Canada, McCain Foods, Intact, TD Bank Group, CBC/Radio-Canada, Aritzia, BMO Financial Group, CTV News, Canada Life, Sobeys, Scotiabank, RBC, FGS Longview Communications, KPMG, Canadian Bankers Association, Canadian Medical Association, Accenture, Aga Khan Development Network, Apple Canada News, Bennett Jones LLP, Blakes, Canadian Women's Foundation, CPP Investments, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Maple Leaf Foods, OLG, Rishi Nolan Strategies, TD Securities, Uber, WSP. In-kind sponsorship is provided by Beehive Design, The Canadian Press, Bespoke Audio Visual, MLSE and Porter Airlines. Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the CJF. About the Canadian Journalism Foundation Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious annual awards and fellowship program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, businesspeople, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. About the Canadian Medical Association The Canadian Medical Association leads a national movement with physicians who believe in a better future of health. Its ambition is a sustainable, accessible health system where patients are partners, a culture of medicine that elevates equity, diversity and wellbeing, and supportive communities where everyone has the chance to be healthy. It drives change through advocacy, giving and knowledge sharing – guided by values of collaboration and inclusion. SOURCE The Canadian Journalism Foundation View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
